The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE) have announced the release of the final Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Central 70 Project. CDOT is seeking a developer team to design and construct the project as well as to operate and maintain the corridor over an extended period through a public-private partnership.

In January 2017, the Federal Highway Administration released a Record of Decision, approving the project to move forward toward construction. The final RFP is the next step in that process. The first draft of the RFP was released September 2015, followed by three additional drafts as CDOT and HPTE continued to refine the document. All RFP drafts have been released publicly as part of CDOT and HPTE’s commitment to increased public participation and transparency.

The final RFP sets CDOT’s expectations and standards for the Project and outlines the contractual terms that the selected Developer will have to follow. It is also the document the four shortlisted teams will use to submit their bids later this spring.  A developer partner will be selected in summer 2017.

The Central 70 Project will add one additional Express Lane in each direction on I-70 from I-25 to Chambers Road, remove the 54-year-old viaduct and lower the interstate between Brighton and Colorado boulevards, and construct a 4-acre park over a portion of the lowered interstate. CDOT released the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on Jan. 15, 2016, and received a Record of Decision from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on Jan. 19, 2017. 

David Spector, HPTE Director, said:

“The RFP highlights our commitment to the community and will help guide the selection of a developer in this highly competitive solicitation for the Central 70 Project. As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency, CDOT and HPTE have made the Final RFP publicly available. Central 70 is our second public-private partnership project, and we look forward to selecting the right developer to deliver this project that will bring so many benefits to Coloradans.”

Anthony DeVito, Central 70 Project Director, said:

“Since the release of the first draft of the RFP in September 2015, we have worked with the teams to respond to questions and listen to ideas. We look forward to receiving the proposals and selecting a team to deliver this critical project to Colorado.”